Witchita Lineman
Something for the weekend. Witchita Lineman, the signature song of Glen Campbell, written by Jimmy Webb. If you were alive in 1968 in the United States it was impossible not to have heard this song played endlessly. I would not say that I like or dislike the song, but rather that it became imprinted upon my 11 year old unconscious that year and has stayed with me ever since. However, the real reason that I am posting it is due to the classic filksong parody, which I have always been very fond of:
I am a follower of Cthulhu, and I lead a mad horde
Searching everywhere for our vanished Overlord.
And though we need him more than want him
Still we’ll have him for all time
When his city of R’lyeh
Ascends from the sli-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-me!
You see, I met this mad Arab, and he showed me his book.
I thought it couldn’t hurt just to have one little look.
And though I couldn’t read the language,
it did something to my mind.
Now I’m searching for something
I’d rather not fi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-nd!
13 Responses to Witchita Lineman
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YqM_zH1K7Uw/TOK1hLlt3BI/AAAAAAAAA1o/HCzoksN1-ME/s1600/email+icon+32x32.png")
- Jon commented on The New York Times as State Organ
(4 hours ago) - Jon commented on The Pope's Jews
(4 hours ago) - Jon commented on We Must Not Forget
(6 hours ago) - Jon commented on Lent in a Sinless Age
(6 hours ago) - Jon commented on Lincoln and the Will of God
(6 hours ago) - Mike the Geek commented on At Last Night's Emergency SCHISM Meeting...
(10 hours ago) - Jon commented on What Wondrous Love Is This?
(11 hours ago) - philip commented on What Wondrous Love Is This?
(12 hours ago) - Lorraine Withers commented on Lent in a Sinless Age
(1 days ago) - Jon commented on What Wondrous Love Is This?
(1 days ago) - georgeinbandon,oregon commented on Lent in a Sinless Age
(1 days ago) - anzlyne commented on Invincible Ignorance
(1 days ago) - Marietta commented on Why it is Worth Worrying: On the Brink of a New Pontificate
(1 days ago) - georgeinbandon,oregon commented on Lent in a Sinless Age
(1 days ago) - Tim Fitz commented on Invincible Ignorance
(1 days ago)
Mac,
Thank God you weren’t sorely affected by the tornadoes.
I was 18 years in 1968.
I don’t remember which song it’s out of. Here’s one if the best lines in Rock:
“I hate myself for loving you.”
Thank you TShaw. My prayers for all those who were. Twisters are the snakes, along with politicians, in our Midwestern Garden of Eden.
Wow. I was only 3 yrs old and am feeling blessed that I didn’t have to listen to that song being endlessly played.
A classic parody worthy of Weird Al (he didn’t happen to write it, did he)?
Actually, I think of “Rhinestone Cowboy” as Glen Campbell’s signature song.
*shudder* I can’t stand the song… my mom was just in college (same age as T. Shaw… sorry if that makes you feel old!) when it came out, and seems to have a love/hate relationship with it. Now I’m going to be walking around mumbling “I am a follower of ku-thu-lue….”
I might have to go watch that Trace Adkins’ “Brown Chicken Brown Cow” to get it out of my head.
Suddenly looking forward to “The Secret World” MMO all the more, too.
T Shaw,
was it a lady singing it? ”
I’m rather fond of the chorus from that Meatloaf song with the horrible prolog.
“A classic parody worthy of Weird Al (he didn’t happen to write it, did he)?”
Not as far as I know Elaine.
“Rhinestone Cowboy”
Now there is a Glen Campbell song that truly sets my teeth on edge!
“and seems to have a love/hate relationship with it”
That is my reaction to much of the music of the Sixties Foxfier.
Here is a mind cleanser for you:
Made the mistake of really listening to the “oldies” channel the other day while I was cleaning. I hadn’t noticed how many are guys whining that their girl won’t put out. Still love White Rabbit, though.
And yes, that does get the song gone!
That song was one that made my commuting drives seem longer – then I was 19, my car had an AM/FM radio, FM was new and on and no one was singing those words to me. Most lyrics were becoming sort of unintelligible. At least in retrospect, Glen Campbell had clarity and was down to earth – the existence of love as well as the endless electricity and phone wires keeping things going. We are so dependent.
Sorry for the victims of the early Spring weather violence. Yes, the radar looked like snakes. Looks like we’re in for it all around this year. Linesmen and citizens of the den. Thinking of hanging a map of the US on the wall for these radar watches. My neighbor asked me to print out the music to “People Get Ready” for the organist at his church choir rehearsal but that was last week with political storms. (but, I hear, rehearsal was cancelled due to the weather.) A little look at that foreign language book did something to my mind indeed. Raising it to our Lord with trust has to be the answer to remember.
Nothing wrong with Glen Campbell – always enjoyed his easy listening western style and well toned voice.
Heard on the news about the problems with tornadoes in the midwest US. Trust that all have survived okay – condolences go out to families of those who have been killed or injured.
This side of the world, we just had a so-called “weather bomb” pass through yesterday and the day before, and there are still about 20,000 homes in the lower North Island without power, and some without roofs.
But NSW Aust. and northern Victoria across the ditch (Tasman Sea) have really been getting webbed feet. An area the size of Spain is under water and evacuations are happening all over the state. As the prevailing waether is west to east, we cop a lot of their rain also, and this summer has been a “Claytons” summer – the summer you have when you don’t have a summer. Its been relatively cool ,and very wet – probably the wettest that I can remember – the La Nina effect – or is it El Nino? I’ll have to check
“the La Nina effect — or it is El Nino”
I believe there is a La Nina currently going on in the Pacific although it is forecast to fade away by summer. There was a stronger La Nina condition in 2011, which was marked by numerous and deadly tornado outbreaks in the U.S. There does seem to be a correlation between La Nina conditions and especially bad tornado years (such as 1974, the year of the last “super outbreak” prior to 2011).
I’d guess the way the gulf stream gets tinkered with has something to do with that– it’ll be different, at least. (Like the one-week-of-snow winter here in Seattle.)
I was 1 year old in ’68, heard it in the 70′s as well. It’s an excellent song.